Coin tester



Jul 1e 8, 1943. v w. PATZER ETAL COIN TESTER Filed July 27, 1940 W.PATZER E'l'AL COIN TESTER June 8, 1943.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 4 n I l I a Filed July 27, 1940 Patented June 8,1943 oFFic COIN TESTER William Patzer and Walter A. Trats c'n',

Chicago, Ill.

Application July 27, 1940, Serial No. 347,933 3. Claims. (01. 194-400)This invention relates to coin testing devices and has as its principalobject the provision of coin testing means which employs the coin togenerate an electro-motive force by passage between the pole pieces ofan electromotive-genrerator, the force thus developed being employed toactuate certain selecting mechanism.

Viewed from another aspect, the invention provides a coin testing deviceincluding a chute having acceptance and exit openings and anelectromotive generator including spaced metallic poles in the chutebetween whichthe coin is pushed in frictional engagement with the polesto generate a force, the magnitude of which is dependent upon thephysical characteristics of the coin.

A further object is the arrangement of at least one of the poles toyield to permit introduction of the coin between the poles and yetmaintain a firm frictional pressure on the coin during its transittherebetween.

A further object is the provision of an electrosensitive device in thenature of a glavanometer type relay to be actuated by a current ofcertain magnitude from an electro-motive force generated by certaincoins to operate selecting means for directing the coins variouslytoward the acceptance and reject exits.

Still another object is the provision in a coin testing device of theclass described including an electromotive generator, of electricallyoperated coin selecting means operated by current from a source otherthan the couple, and an electrosensitive device or galvanometer typerelay actuated by the couple for connecting the electrically operatedselecting means with said other source, together with connectionsthrough the galvanometer relay providing a temporary locking circuit toholdup the electrically operated selecting means and give a coin time topass into 1 the proper exit.

auxiliarywork circuit through the galvanometer relay and electricallyoperated selecting means after the coin has had time to pass theselecting means. 7

A still further object is the arrangement of the electromotive couple tooperate as a diameter a gauge for the coin.

Yet another object is the arrangement of the electromotive generator toengage the peripheral edge portions or rim of the coin to awardefacement of the profile of the coin.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention "reside incertain details ofconstruction as welllas the cooperative relationshipof the component parts of theillustr'ative' embodiment describedhereinafter in view of the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective of the testing unit; a Fig. 2 is anenlarged rear perspective ofthe testing unit; i

Fig.8 is a transversevertical section through the unit; h x P Fig.. 3ais a vertical sectional detail View taken along line 311-311 in Fig. 2;

in the direction of lines 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary interior perspective showing the electromotivecouple andcoin pusher; f 9

Fig. 6 is a'circuit-diagram. h

The testing unit shown in'Fig. 1 comprises a thin chute member adaptedfor mounting-ina'n upright position on some associated apparatus to becontrolled, the chute being constructed preferably of an insulatingmaterial, such as fiber,

1 in a front'wall plate [0 of w'hichf is a "coin entrance llcommunicating to an'interiorchute p'assageto be described inviewof Fig;l -"An operating handle l2 proj ects from thelower-portion of the chuteand is journaled in a bushing l3 '(Fig. 3) with'a shaft portion 15-extending from the rear face plate [6 of the chute, asshown in Fig.2,for connection with amounting hub M from which extends a-pusheroperating arm 15a.

The body of the chute preferably includes an intermediate cut-out plateI [1' (Figs, 3 and 4) Which is clamped between the front face plate l0and the rear faceplate I6, suitable screws- ;l 8 holding the platestogether, the intermediate 'cutout plate I! also including a' section11a which provides a descending r-un'way -portion" l'f9 leading into areject'exit 20 opening into the bottom edge of the chute. The oppositeside of the section Ila is spaced from the adjoiningparts' of themain-section l fl't'o define 'an cce tance passage 2| leading into anacceptance eXit'ZZ in the bottom' edge of the chute.

The principal'part of the testing'meansin eludes an electromotivegenerator consisting of one pole piece or electrode in the form of aplate 23 of copper or other suitable metal, fixedwithin the chutepassage above'the runway 19 andhaving a horiz ontallyextending runwayledge 24- on I 26' of therunway'24;

. tion 25, the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained, and arearward or trailing edge portion 26 which terminates in spaceapproximately above the acceptance opening 2| and the uppermost end ofthe runway 9 so that the coin A, in rolling off the upper horizontaledge 24, would tend to drop directly into the acceptance opening 2|.

The electromotive generator is completed by the provision of a plate 21of a metal different from the plate 23, preferably of carbon steel,mounted on horizontally spaced pins 28 extending in vertically elongatedslots 29 formed in the. plate 21 so that the latter may shiftvertically. The second or carbon steel electrode or plate is providedwith a wedge-shaped lower horizontal edge 36 (Figs. 3 and 5), which edgeis normally maintained in approximate parallelism with the runway ledge24 on the companion copper elec- Y trode or pole, piece.

The upper or carbon steel plate or electrode 21 is urged downwardly by abow spring 3|. This bow. spring 3| is disposed between the top edge ofthe electrode 21 and the facing provided by the intermediate cut-outplate I! with the medial portion of the bow spring 3| bearing againstthe plate I'll and the free ends of the bow spring 3| positively urgingthe electrode 21 into a normally lowered and predetermined spacedrelation relative to the companion electrode 23: and particularly theledge portion 24 thereon. V

The coin entrance II is disposed above the leading edge 25 of the runway24 in such position that the coin A deposited" therein tends to restagainst the verticallyspacededge portions 32 of a U-shaped slidingpusher-33 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5) mounted for horizontal sliding movementin horizontally extending, vertically spaced slots 34 (Fig. 2) formed inthe face plate IS. The vertically spaced portions 32 onithe pusher'aresituated so that the coin A will rest against both edge portions. asshown in Fig. 4,imm ediately following deposit, andduring movement ofthe pusher '33: to the left until the coin'drops off the left end Thepusher 33 is operatively connected to and reciprocated by the arm |5ahaving a pin and slot driving connection 5b with the same, as shown inFig.2. A spring 36 having one end suitably'anchored and its opposite endconnected to lever arm 15a, urges thelatter and operating handle |2associated therewith into a normal position in which the pusher isdisposed, as shown in Fig. 4,

.ready to engage a coin. Afterdepositing the coin, the patron turns thehandle l2, shifting the pusher toward the left (Fig; 4) and pushing thecoin A in between the-electrodes 23 and 2'! along the runway ledge 24,as indicated by the coin B.

If the coin is of less than a predetermined diameter, the upper rimportion thereof obviously will not engage the edge 30 on the carbonsteel to the plate l6 and to position the projection 46 in blockingposition across the entrance of the passage 2| just opposite the, upperedge portion |9a of the inclined runway l9. As a result of such normalpositioning of the blocking portion 40, a coin leaving the end 26 of theupper runway ledge 24 will be prevented from entering the acceptancepassage and roll over the runway I9 into the reject exit 20 unless themagnet 42 is energized to attract the armature plate counterclockwise(Fig. 3) to retract the blocking portion 46 out of the acceptancepassageway 2| before the coin reaches the latter.

The electrically operated selecting means 40- 42 is adapted to becontrolled by the electrometive generator 232| when a coin elementhaving proper physical characteristics such as are found in anacceptable coin, for example a U. S. fivecent piece, is pushed betweenthe electrodes forming the electro-motive generator to develop anelectric-motive force which operates certain electrosensitive relaymeans which connects electro-motive force from an auxiliary source, suchas a battery 5|, with the coil 42 to effect. withdrawal of the blockingprojection 40 from the coin passage 2| which withdrawal of theprojection 40 permits passage of the coin into the acceptance passage 2|and exit 22.

The current developed by the 'electro-motive generator is immediatelyutilized to operate a highly sensitive relay of the so-calledgalvanometer type'which operates on relatively small currents. Thisrelay is indicated as a unit at 45 (Figs. 2 and 3') mounted on the rearfaceplate I6, the relay having'a moving coil system 46 including amovable contact 46a (Figs. 2, 3, 6); disposed by 'hair spring means 41in a normally open circuit relationship with respect to a companioncon-tact48 (Figs. 2 and 6).

' As'shown in Fig. 6, one terminal of the moving coil 46 is connected bya conductor 49 to the electrode 21, the remaining terminal of the movingcoil being connected by conductor 56 to the copper electrode 23,'so thatwhen the. proper coin A is pushed between the electrodes anelectro-motive force will be developed and current will beconductedthrough" the moving coil sysa dry cell type battery 5| isincluded as a part of electrode; The diameter of the opening pre-- ventsthe insertion of coins of greater than the required diameter. a

The acceptance passageway 2| is normally closed by a'blocking projection40 (Figs. 2, 3a and 4) offset on an armature plate ;4| 1 pivotallymounted on and constituting part of an electrically operated selectingdevice including a magnet 42 and spring means 43 (Fig. 3a) anchored tothe magnet supporting frame and to the armature plate 4| and normallyurging the armature plate 4| to dispose the latter at an angle with;respget 'g5 the testing unit. This work circuit is made up by oneterminal of the battery 5| being connected to one terminal of the coil42,'whi1e the remaining-coil terminal is connected .via conductor 53 toone terminal 54 of a supervisory control switch 55 (Fig. 2) mounted onthe rear panel '|6of the unit. A companion movable contact '56 of thissupervisory switch 55 is connectedin common with conductor 56 throughthe moving coil system 46 through the movable contact'46a thereof. Thecompanion contact 48 of. the' movable contact 46a is connected by aconductor wire to the positive side of the battery 5|;

The contact 56 of the supervisory switch is of the spring leaf varietyand is normally-biased into closed circuit engagement'with the compan-ion contact 54; however, contact 56,. is held out of contactingengagement with contact 54 by engagement of an offset flange l5c on themain operating arm with an insulated stud 51 on the contact 56, as shownin Fig. 2, so long as the operating arm Ia'is in its normal position. Assoon as the operating arm is turned out of normal position to movecoin'Abetween the electrodes, the supervisory switch contacts 5455 will beclosed; and as soon as the current from the electrodes causes the relaycontact 46a to engage contact 48, the auxiliary work circuit frombattery 5| will be completed and current will flow through the movingcoil system 43 energizing the coil 42 which will attract the armatureplate 41 and retract the blocking projection 40 so that the alreadymoved coin A may drop into the acceptance passage 2|, assuming the cointo be an acceptable one. As soon as the operator releases the handle [2,spring 36 will restore arm a to urge flange l5cagainst stud 51,thus-opening the supervisory switch 55, deenergizing coil 42 andpermitting the spring 43 to restore the selecting armature 4i andblocking projection 40 to normally effective position.

A mounting clip 60 (Fig. 2) is provided on wall l6 of the chute tosupport a small dry cell, there being terminals BI and 62 engaging theterminals at the opposite ends of the battery for connection in thecircuit of Fig. 6. Electrical connection to the electrodes of theelectromotive generator is effected by a screw 63 (Fig. 2)

threaded into a stud 64 (Figs. 4 and 5) on the copper plate electrode23, while connection to the other carbon steel electrode is made to aprojection 65 (Figs. 3 and 5) from the steel plate, which projectionpasses through the cover plate Hi just behind the galvanometer relay 45.

To summarize the operation of the device, it is assumed that the mainoperating arm l5a is in normal position and that a patron deposits coinA, of suitable diameter and characterictics intended to operate thedevice, in the opening I I, coin A resting against the edge portions 32on the pusher. The patron turns the handle l2 and causes the pusher 33to be displaced toward the left (Figs. 2, 4 and 5), thus pushing thecoin A in between the copper electrode 23 and steel electrode 21, thelatter yielding against spring means 3| to permit the ready passage ofthe coin while at the same time firmly urging the wedge-shaped edgeportion 30 at the upper electrode into the rimof the coin to establishgood electrical contact. Meanwhile, the supervisory switch 55 will havebeen closed so that the auxiliary battery circuit will be effective assoon as the galvanometer relay is actuated by current generated by theelectromotive couple.

The metals employed for electrodes desirably occupy different positionsin the electromotive series, and the current generated by the couple isdependent in part upon the metallic constituency of the coin element Aas well as upon the pressure exerted upon the coin by the electrodes andthe rate of movement of the coin between the electrodes. In order thatvariations in the rate of movement of the coin may not interfere withthe operation of the device as a practical matter, the electrosensitivedevice or galvanometer relay 45 is preferably chosen to becurrentoperated, as distinguished from voltage operated; and theelectrodes are arranged and the electrical characteristics of the movingcoil system 46 of the electrosensitive device are chosen so that anacceptable coin, for example a fivecent coin of legitimate minting, willgenerate a certain average current in passing between the electrodes 23and 21, which current will be sufflcient to operate the galvanometerrelay, while other metalliccoin elements will not generate the currentrequisite to displace-the moving circuit of the galvanometersufliciently to close circuits 46 and 48. a

If the coin deposited is not an acceptable one, as aforesaid, the relay45 will not operate and the blocking member 40 of the selecting devicewill remain in normal position and be struck by the coin after leavingthe copper electrode runway 24 and :pass on down the runway l9 into thereject exit 20. If the coin is such as will generate the requisitecurrent to operate the relay 45,

coil 42 will be energized to effect withdrawal of the blocking part 40so that the coin may fall directly into passage '2! and pass through theacceptance exit 22.

A soon as the operating lever I5a returns to normal position, thesupervisory switch 55 will be automatically opened and the auxiliarybattery circuit disconnected from the coil 42. 1 I

It will be obvious, as illustrated in Fig. 4, should a coin be depositedwhile the pusher 33 is-in its coin advancing position, to the left, thatupon the return of the pusher 33 to normal position such last depositedcoin will be caused to drop through a by-pass 10 for gravitation throughthe reject exit 26 for return, by means not shown, to the dep-ositor ofsuch coin.

The various advantages and object of the invention may be accomplishedby modifications of the particular embodiment specifically describedherein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include allequivalent arrangements fairly coming within their call.

, Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desireto protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a coin testing device including a coin passage having an entranceand a reject exit and an acceptance exit, and testing means in the formof an electromotive generator comprising a pair of spaced electrodesdisposed in said coin passage 0 between the entrance and exits, one ofsaid elec- .trodes forming as supporting ledge for a coin inserted intosaid entrance opening, the other electrode being positioned above saidfirst mentioned electrode and being normally urged in a direction towardthe latter for engaging the peripheral edge of a coin passing therealongtogether with a control arm for effecting movement of such a coinbetween the electrodes whereby a coin so moved will be caused togravitate toward said acceptance exit, the combination of a coindeflector normally disposed in said coin passage above said acceptanceexit to cause a coin gravitating toward the latter to be deflectedtoward said reject exit, electrically operated means having a coil andan armature, said armature carrying the coin deflector and having springmeans for urging the deflector into said normal position, a primarycircuit adapted to utilize the electromotive force developed by saidelectrodes, a galvanoscope having the coil thereof arranged in saidprimary circuit with said electrode and adapted to be energized when acoin having certain physical and electrical characteristics is passedbetween the electrodes as aforesaid, said galvanoscope including anormally open switch adapted to assume closed circuit condition when thecoil thereof is energized as aforesaid, a secondary circuit, anauxiliary source of electrical energy for said secondary circuit, saidswitch and the coil of said electrically operated means "arranged insaid secondary circuit for withdrawmg said deflector out of said coinpassage to permit coins to gravitate into said acceptance exit.

and another switch in said secondary circuit actuated by said controlarm when the latter is restored to a normal position for interruptingsaid secondary circuit thereby deenergizing the coil of saidgalvanoscope.

2. In a coin testing device, the combination of means providing a chutehaving an entrance and a plurality of exit passages, a Control circuit,means providing an electro-motive generator for said control circuitadjacentsaid entrance, said generator including opposite electrodemembers between which a coin is adapted to be passed withopposite rimportions thereof each engaging one of said electrodes, means including amovable coin engaging member normally disposed to receive a coin fromsaid entrance and for effecting movement of said coin between theelectrodes as aforesaid, a relay including a coil connected in saidcontrol circuit and adapted to be energized by electricity developed bymovement of said coin having certain physical and electricalcharacteristics, between the electrodes in the manner aforesaid, a workcircuit for said coil for holding the latter energized under certainconditions, said relay including a switch means arranged in said workcircuit and adapted to be disposed in circuit completing condition whensaid coil is energized as aforesaid, an auxiliary source of electricityfor said work circuit, electrically operated selecting means forefiecting movement of the coin toward a certain one of said exitpassages as a result of movement of said coin relative to theelectro-motive generator to develop the electricity as aforesaid, saidselecting means comprising an armature having a ledge portion thereofnormally disposed over one of said exit openings to direct coins to theother one of said exit openings and an electro-magnetic means arrangedin said work circuit and adapted when energized to draw said ledgeportion of said armature out of said normal position to permit coins topass into said one of said exit openings, together with another switchin said work circuit for controlling the flow of current through thelatter and coacting with said means for efiecting movement of the coinbetween the electrodes, and

to disconnect said auxiliary source of electricity normal coin receivingposition.

3. A coin testing device having, in combination, a coin chute providedwith an entrance and an acceptance and reject opening, a metal electrodearranged in said chute adjacent said entrance and providing anapproximately horizontal runway on which the rim of a coin may move,said runway terminating in space above said acceptance and rejectopenings so that a coin lwill gravitate toward the acceptance opening,moveable blocking means normally blocking passage of a coin into saidacceptance opening and directing a coin toward the reject opening, asecond metal electrode arranged in said chute in spaced relation withrespect to said first named electrode and provided with an edge portionadapted to engage the rim of a coin moving along said runway, areciprocable pusher arranged on said chute for sliding movement betweensaid electrodes, a crank arm arranged on said chute for swingingmovement and having its free end linked to said pusher for moving thesame from a normal position adjacent said entrance to engage a coindeposited in the latter and move said coin over and off said runwaybetween the electrodes andv develop thereby an electro-motive force,when coins having certain electrical and physical characteristics aredeposited, an initial circuit embodying said electrodes to utilize theelectro-motive force developed as aforesaid, relay means including acoil connected in said initial circuit and energized by currentresulting from said electro-motive force when developed as aforesaid,and a work circuit for effecting operation of said moveable blockingmeans to withdraw the latter from blocking position over said acceptanceopening, said work circuit including an electromagnet arranged adjacentsaid moveable blocking means and adapted when energized to attract thelatter from normal blocking position, an auxiliary source of electricalener y, switch means operatively associated with said relay means and inthe said work circuit and adapted to be closed upon energization of saidcoil as aforesaid, said work circuit also including said coil whereby tohold said switch in circuit completing condition, and another switch forsaid work circuit and normally disposed in circuit completing positionand having one contact element thereof adapted to be engaged by saidcrank arm when the latter is in normal position to dispose said controlswitch in broken circuit position, and spring means connected to saidcrank arm and anchored to said chute for urging said crank arm intonormal position. WILLIAM PATZER.

WALTER A. TRATSCH.

